T.M. Selection: Arizona.

I like Arizona to cover the spread against Houston in this game on Thursday. Arizona has looked really good in their games lately and I think they are going to carry over their momentum into this game. Arizona just beat TCU in their most recent game by 5 points but that game went to OT after Arizona was trailing late but managed to grind out a way to tie the game and force the OT. Arizona did look a bit shaky in that game but they got their act together and managed to grind it out. I don't see Arizona blowing out Houston here since they are a really good team too, but this spread is really small and when it comes to picking a winner here, I have to go with Arizona. Both of these teams had similar records during the regular season but Arizona still has less losses all year and they also played a much stronger conference than Houston did. Houston was really the only ranked team in their conference for most of the year while the Pac-12 always had at least 3 teams that were ranked in the top 25 and the quality of the competition was a lot better too. Arizona has won 8 games in a row now and I don't see them slowing down now that they are getting so close to the prize. I expect Arizona to turn up the jets in this game and try to get a better handle on the game from the start. Houston just kicked Illinois out in their most recent game and even though Houston won that game by 10+ points, they struggled to pull away from Illinois in the 1st half and even when they had come out and gained a big lead from the start, they blew that lead by half and were only winning by a few points. Mathurin and Koloko have been too hot for Arizona at the moment and I don't think Houston has the players to defend these 2 with how good they have looked lately. I think this is going to be a very good game but in the end Arizona is the better team and I have to go with them here after the year they have put together. I like Arizona to cover the spread in this game.

T.M. Prediction: 76-68 Arizona.